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Sir Henry Halford, previously Henry Vaughan (1766-1844) (fig 1), was president of the Royal College of Physicians from 1820 until his death-a period of 24 years. Born in Leicester, his father James Vaughan was an accomplished physician of the town and his mother, Hester, was the daughter of William Smalley who had married a daughter of Sir Richard Halford. 1 James Vaughan was an exceptional man, investing all his income on the education of his children. Rather graphically he said that he would prefer to follow them to their grave were they not successful in their chosen calling. 2 James Vaughan lived to see the success of his son Henry, and for many years received from him an annuity of £300. 2 Henry Vaughan was educated at Rugby, matriculating in Christ Church Oxford and graduating BA in 1788, MB in 1790 and DM in 1791 1
Portrait of Sir Henry Halford. Reproduced with permission, copyright Royal College of Physicians, London.
On leaving Oxford Henry Vaughan studied in Edinburgh for three sessions, each of 6 months, in between times returning to Leicester where he learned clinical medicine from his father. Qualifying in medicine he spent some time practising in Scarborough and in 1792 decided to move to London where he sought the advice of Sir George Baker, the then president of the Royal College of Physicians. 2 Baker advised him that he needed an income of £300 a year in order to establish himself in the city.
Confident of his ability to succeed he borrowed £1000 and set up in London. 3 Success quickly came and in 1793 he was elected physician to the Middlesex Hospital, a post he gave up in 1800 because of his growing private practice.
In March 1795 he married the Hon Elizabeth Barbara St John, the third daughter of Lord St John of Bletsoe. They had two children, a son and a daughter. Halford's wife died in 1833.
Within a year of his arrival in London Halford's star was in the ascendant. He was appointed physician extraordinary to the King. He also inherited a large estate on the death of Lady Denbigh, the widow of his mother's cousin Sir Charles Halford. In anticipation of succeeding to the estate Henry Vaughan changed...